Massachusetts’ Strong Vaccination Rates Shield the State From a Measles Surge

Across the United States a late‑summer spike in measles has left Pennsylvania grappling with nearly 700 cases and, tragically, four deaths. In contrast, New England has managed to stay largely in the clear – only a dozen confirmed infections have been reported, two of them in Massachusetts.

“That’s not luck,” said Dr. Robbie Goldstein, the commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “It’s years, even decades, of people here pushing the benefits of vaccination.” Goldstein reminded listeners that the advantage of a shot goes well beyond the individual who rolls up their sleeve.

He explained herd immunity in plain terms: when enough people are immune—whether through vaccination or past infection—the virus finds it hard to hop from person to person. For measles, that magic number sits at roughly 95 percent of school‑age children.

Massachusetts law already requires every child entering a public school to receive the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is about 97 % effective at preventing the disease. Last year, kindergarteners as a whole hit a 96.5 % coverage rate – comfortably above the national average of 92.4 %.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve done,” Goldstein said, a hint of optimism in his voice. He added that travelers could still bring measles into the state, but he trusts the “wall of immunity” to keep an outbreak at bay.

Despite the impressive overall numbers, the data also reveal cracks. Private schools aren’t required to meet the same immunization mandate, and religious exemptions are climbing in public schools. In the most recent school year, 1,068 kindergarteners were granted exemptions, up from 870 the year before.

“The trend is worrisome,” Goldstein warned. He pointed to clusters in western Massachusetts and on Cape Cod where exemption rates are rising. Some private institutions reported MMR coverage as low as 60 % at St. Anthony School in Everett, 71 % at First Baptist Christian School in Weymouth, and 75 % at the Waldorf School in Lexington. Even a few public schools fell short: Chilmark Elementary on Martha’s Vineyard posted 86 % and Orleans Elementary on the Cape recorded 89 %.

If measles were to land in one of those pockets, the virus could spread quickly, potentially affecting dozens of children and their families. Goldstein urged parents to look up the vaccination statistics for their own districts, neighborhoods, and after‑school programs – “those numbers really matter” when it comes to keeping kids safe.

In short, Massachusetts’ high vaccination rates have so far insulated the state from a nationwide measles wave, but the lingering gaps remind officials that vigilance and community‑wide participation remain essential.